MRT boss resigns over fatal accident at worksite

Azhar has decided to resign following the incident which occurred in Kota Damansara yesterday. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Afif Abd Halim, August18, 2014.
Mass Rapid Transit Corporation Sdn Bhd (MRT Corp) chief executive officer Datuk Wira Azhar Abdul Hamid has tendered his resignation over the accident at an MRT worksite near Kota Damansara last night which claimed the lives of three workers.

Azhar said his decision to resign was in line with MRT Corp taking full responsibility for the incident.

“As the head of MRT Corp, I am taking personal responsibility for the incident and this is the correct thing to do. I have informed the Chairman of MRT Corp, Tan Sri Dr Ali Hamsa, of my decision,” he says.

Azhar was appointed CEO of MRT Corp on September 1, 2011 following the Government’s decision to set up the company to take over the ownership and development of the Klang Valley MRT Project from Syarikat Prasarana Malaysia Bhd.
Meanwhile, MRT Corp also informed media in the latest update on the worksite accident that the bodies of the two remaining workers who were trapped beneath the span of the MRT guideway, which had dislodged from its piers and fallen on the ground below at 8.30pm yesterday night, have been recovered.

The bodies of Bangladesh nationals Mohamad Faruk Khan, 38, and Mohammad Alauddin Mollik, 34, were recovered at about 1.35pm after the sixth segmented box girders which form the span were lifted.

The body of the third Bangladeshi, Mohammad Elahi Hossain, was pulled out from under the MRT guideway at 2.34am.

In a statement today, Azhar assured that the relevant authorities will begin an investigation into the incident to identify its cause.

“I hope all weaknesses which are identified will be rectified,” he said, adding that he was “extremely saddened’ by the loss of lives.

Azhar had always stressed the need to improve safety in the construction industry and had personally made some effort to achieve this.

MRT Corp also said that the bodies of two remaining workers, who were trapped under the concrete span, have been recovered.

The bodies of Bangladeshis Mohamad Faruk Khan, 38, and 34-year-old Mohammad Alauddin Mollik were recovered at about 1.35pm, after the sixth segmented box girders which form the span were lifted.

Earlier this morning, the body of Mohammad Elahi Hossain, 27, was found at 2.30 am trapped under the collapsed span.

The workers’ remains were taken to the Sungai Buloh Hospital for post-mortem.

The three construction workers went missing after the 650-tonne span at the MRT worksite near the former Rubber Research Institute land collapsed at 8.30 pm yesterday

The Bangladesh High Commission has been informed, MRT said, to contact the family members of the three workers who had died.

“MRT Corp and SMPP (contractor Syarikat Muhibah Perniagaan dan Pembinaan Sdn Bhd) will make the necessary arrangements for the bodies to be repatriated to Bangladesh once the next of kin have been informed and consent is given by the High Commission,” the statement read.

All work at the site has been called off until further notice, it said, adding that Project Delivery Partner MMC Gamuda KVMRT (PDP) Sdn Bhd has commenced investigations to determine the cause of the incident.

“Initial investigations have revealed that the work method approved for the installation of parapets was not adhered to.

“We will investigate why this happened, and no stone will be left unturned so that we can get to the bottom of this tragic incident. We will also not spare anyone whose actions are found to have caused or contributed to this accident,” Azhar said.

He also assured that the MRT structures have been checked to be safe, allaying public worry over the safety of the span.

“Immediate checks carried out have revealed that there is no reason for the public to worry about the other spans which have been built along the alignment. There is absolutely no issue with structural integrity along our alignment,” he says.

Meanwhile, Subang MP R Sivarasa has urged authorities to suspend the whole MRT project until investigations can be carried out to prove that it was safe, adding that this was the second case of a similar nature in merely two months.

“Road users who frequently pass through MRT work sites should have confidence in their safety. These two incidents, unfortunately, do not inspire any confidence.

“Until this confidence is restored through detailed reports, I urge that the work should be stopped immediately,” he said in a statement. – August 19, 2014.

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The certified-accountant-turned-plantations man Azhar who was a successful Sime Darby CEO for plantations and acting Group President when former CEO Dato’ Seri Ahmad Zubir Murshid resigned, was appointed to head the MRT Corp after Federal Government carved it out of Prasrana three years to give it full control and fcous of developing the third MRT line.

Azhar as a high compliant personality, stressed the requirement to adhere to strict safety standards in all the MRT Corp worksites. Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Mohd. Najib Tun Razak handpicked this diehard Chelsea FC fan for the MRT Corp top job.

As a business manager, he introduced an effective and productive joint development program for many of the parcels along the Sungai Buloh-Kajang line (also known as the Blue Line), which saw the savings of RM1.5 billion for the Federal Government in land acquisition. The development and construction of the 60km line which passes through 25 stations is expected to complete by end of 2017.

This is the sort of leadership and accountability the nation is longing to have. Just for size, Khazanah MD Tan Sri Azman Mokhtar was Azhar’s contemporary when they were doing A Levels right through ACCA in the United Kingdom, from 1978 to mid 80s.

Thank goodness we still have honourable people in Malaysia. Wonder how many are around in this country these days, willing to admit mistakes or weaknesses and take responsibility for failings that occur in the organizations they lead, although such mistakes are not committed by them themselves.

Which brings us to whether Dato Seri Najib is one of those. Especially in view of what Tun Dr Mahathir said in his CheDet blog and quoted all over the places in the last 1-2 days. TDM has lost faith in Najib’s Government, withdrawn his support for it, was even quoted as saying Najib being worse than Pak Lah.

And I think in Najib’s case it is his own doing, deliberate and intended. Due largely to his so-called liberalism. Though I think no Malay is liberal if he doesn’t protect and fight for the rights and the interests of the Malays – the disadvantaged and left-far-behind community in this country – according to the aims and objectives of the UMNO Constitution and based on the Constitution of the country. A Malay who doesn’t think and do all those is not liberal, but merely a pseudo-liberal or “liberal olok olok”.

Tengku A Rahman gave away Singapore to Lee Kuan Yew FOC out of anger and a hugely regrettable lapse in judgment, and history must judge him harshly, because throughout the history of mankind nations go to war to protect and defend their territorial integrity and national sovereignty, yet TAR just flicked Singapore away out of Malaysia with the stroke of the pen.

Now let’s compare the actions of a man of such a high sense of responsibility, moral integrity and willingness to give up his cushy and mighty corporate position for the mishap caused by others but under his watch, a real man like Dato Wira Azhar. Compare those with what Najib has done or not done. As said by Tun Dr Mahathir.

The whole range of issues pertaining to Ketuanan Melayu as reflected by the roles, functions and responsibilities of the YDP Agong, the Malay Rulers, the Rulers Council etc are protected under that Act. Discarding that Act will surely lead to those ungrateful pendatangs like the DAP to shout for the abolition of the Monarchy in this country. Yes, Dr Mahathir is right – that’ll lead to racial tension, which may be ignited into racial clashes, political instability and chaos.

I think it is even irresponsible for DS Najib to think so, let alone deciding to do so. Responsible citizens must speak up against this kind of thinking and actions by DS Najib. UMNO must preserve the integrity of the 60 year old political party. Get rid of those whose actions are against the aims and objectives of the founding fathers.

Let’s also compare the heroic stand of Dato Wira Azhar with the often shameful and dastardly acts of Opposition leaders in this country.

Those who often oppose simply for the sake of opposing, those who are so power crazy like Anwar Al Juburi who even made himself stupid into believing he won PRU13 by not having the majority seats in Parliament. Divisive to the extent that the Malays have now become three different groups. No matter what, by hook or by crook he must get to Putrajaya. Thank God he now looks like only reaching Sg Buluh or Kajang Prison.

And those who are so divisive as to drag the ungrateful ingrate pedatangs away from respect for and living by the Constitution of the country. Those whose forefathers have been stateless in this country for 150 years, yet when the Malays agreed to them being given citizenship right, did not honour the quid pro quo by respecting those sensitive Articles of the Constitution that are protected under the Sedition Act.

Like Lim Kit Siang, son Lim Guan Eng and the illegal CEC-led DAP. Speaking for Mandarin being the language of instruction in Chinese schools, not respecting Article 152 of the Constitution on Bahasa Malaysia and on “mother tongues” may be used only for other than “official purposes”, and schools are the official purpose of any country.

DAP hogging the so-called Malaysian Malaysia slogan wanting equality without simultaneously acknowledging the Special Position of the Malays and the Bumiputeras of Sabah and Sarawak under Article 153 of the Constitution. Supporting the Kalimah Allah issue and not respecting Article 3 of the Constitution which states that “Islam is the religion of the Federation” and that “other religions may be “practiced in peace and harmony”.

DAP that has been known as anti-Malay, anti-Islam and caused the race riots of 13 May 1969. Even opposed History being made compulsory in schools, not wanting younger generations to know how anti-national they have been since their party formation nearly half a century ago. They are far from being a Dato Wira Azhar by a thousand miles.